STAFF CORRESPONDENT

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One person killed; acres of vineyards damaged

A farmer showing his damaged grape crop at Indi taluk in Bijapur on Monday.

Unseasonal rain Monday night wreaked havoc in the district, causing the death of one person, killing more than 60 sheep and extensively damaging crops.

According to officials, a person from Tenalli village of Indi taluk died after being struck with lightning, and around 60 sheep died after being hit by hailstones, weighing more than half a kilogram.

The farmers of Indi and Bijapur taluks that have a substantial area under grape farming, experienced major loss following the rain coupled with hailstorm that lashed the district.

“The grape farmers are yet to recover from the loss incurred due to successive droughts. Monday’s rain was like rubbing salt on our wounds,” said Zilla Panchayat vice president Tammanna Hangaragi, also a major grape grower of the district.

A preliminary assessment revealed that the district sustained a loss of around Rs. 200 crore, with horticulture crops — primarily grape and pomegranate — spread in more than 4,000 hectares of land was damaged extensively. Standing jowar crop too was damaged in the rain.

Meanwhile, according to the statistics supplied by the District Administration, though the average rainfall in the district was only 6.8 mm, some areas such as Zalaki and Chadachan towns of Indi taluk have recorded 67mm and 19.6 mm rainfall respectively.

Compensation

Mr. Hangaragi said the government would be urged to offer a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh per acre to grape farmers.

Speaking to The Hindu , District in-charge Minister M.B. Patil, who visited some of the affected areas, said that since the farmers had incurred a heavy loss, he would submit a detailed report to the respective department, and the matter would also be brought to the notice of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is expected to visit Bijapur on Wednesday.

“The priority is to ensure that the farmers get adequate compensation and relief from the government for the loss they have incurred,” Mr. Patil said.